Are you eating too much salt?

For years sugar and fat have been the villains when it comes to dietary offenders, but sneaky salt could be causing you all sorts of trouble, as Lizzy Dening explains…

You might not think that your Y food contains a lot of salt, but it’s surprising how much lurks within your daily diet – from sliced bread to soup – where it’s used as a preservative. It’s been linked to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, as it affects the volume of your blood and forces your heart to work

You’re constantly thirsty

While thirst can be a symptom of various conditions, including diabetes, it might also be an indication that your diet is salt-heavy. Make sure you check the ingredients in items such as sauces – you’d be surprised by how much sodium chloride (its technical name) can creep in – try cooking everything from scratch for a day or two to see if things change. harder. It’s also believed to damage kidneys and potentially bone health, too, as you lose more calcium when you pee when there’s an increase of salt in your body. It’s recommended that you have no more than a teaspoon of salt a day, but if you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, it’s likely that you’re eating more by mistake…

You have headaches for no reason

If you’ve been suffering from headaches and can’t work out why, it’s worth taking a look at your most recent meal. Too much salt can actually cause the blood vessels in your brain to expand, which, not surprisingly, can be painful.

You’re feeling bloated

Sodium is used to balance the fluid levels in your blood. When there’s too much in your blood, water

leaves your cells and causes swelling elsewhere. If your tummy or – strangely – your fingers or toes feel swollen after a meal, it’s worth checking the salt content of what you’ve eaten.

Your sense of taste is dull

If food has started tasting bland, eating excessive salt may have actually dulled your tastebuds. Don’t look to your salt grinder for answers – add herbs, lemon juice, vinegar and spices to pep up your dinner instead.